Mechanical translating device



May 11, 1948. A. w. MOONEY MECHANICAL TRANSLATING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 17, 1944 I Albeg WMomg waw fi oriz eys Meiy 11, 1948.

A. W. MOONEY MECHANICAL TRANSLATING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheei 2 Filed June 17, 1944 Patented May 11, 1948 STATES PATENT OFFIC.

1 Claim.

This invention relates to mechanical translating devices and has particular relation to devices for eiiecting desired mechanical movements by the selective operation of a plurality of prime movers or sources of power application.

Such devices are particularly useful in mechanisms wherein it is necessary or desirable that emergency operating means be provided for use in case of failure of the normally used. operating means, the emergency means frequently, although not necessarily, taking the form of manually operable means. The present invention is particularly well suited for uses in which the desired ultimate movement is effected at relatively slow speed and relatively high torque acting through a comparatively short distance, but ad- Vantageous applications may also :be made to other types of operations.

One example of a use to which the invention may be applied to good advantage is the actuation of retractable. landing gear of aircraft. The invention is also useful for the operation of various other aircraft parts or devices, such as movable flaps, stabilizers and other members, as well as mechanisms in other fields of application.

Devices heretofore proposed for accomplishing functions such as those above referred to have been subject to various objections. A particularly objectionable feature in many such constructions is the necessary provision of clutches or clutching and declutching means of one kind or another for disengaging the mechanism to be actuated from one of the sources of power when the other source is to be utilized. These clutches are subject tofailure in various. respects and to operating objections, such as the difli culty, time delay and operational complication involved in their use. They also involve added weight, mechanical complication and expense, all of which factors involve serious disadvantages in various types of applications.

The primary object of the present invention is toprovide a mechanicaltranslating device for effecting a desired mechanical movement by the selective operation of a plurality of prime movers or sources of power application, without involving any of the above-mentioned disadvantages. In particular, it is an object of the invention to provide a. mechanism for efiecting the indicated type of operation without the employment of any clutches or similar devices, and 'in this manner and otherwise to provide a relatively lightweight mechanism for effecting the desired results.-

A. further important object of the invention is 2 to provide a device of the above-indicated character which shall have an extremely high degree of reliability of operation, thus affording a very high factor of safety, particularly where one of the selectively used prime movers or sources of power is an emergency source to be utilized in ctfecti-ng a vital operation upon failure of th source normally used for that purpose.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the above-indicated character which shall be simple and economical to construct'and to install in any construction wherein it is to be employed and shall afford ready replacement of units and parts and require a minimum of attention in service.

In carrying out the invention in one form, a device is provided which comprises a power-deliverir'ig crank for enacting the desired mechanical movement. This crank is normally driven by'an electric motor acting through a speed-reducing mechanism; The motor, speed-reducing mechanisin and crank are constructed as a unit assembly which is mounted for rotary movement about anaxis coinciding with the axis of'the power-delivering crank; Means are provided for rotating this assembly about the said aXis' by the selective applicationof an alternative source of power or maybe utilized as the normal source of power to actuate the power -deliveringcrank through the speed reducing mechanism, in which case the unit assembly is secured against rotation-about its axis by reason of the fact that the worm and gear connection thereto from the hand crank or other alternative power source constitutes a non invertible power transmission. In case the motor fails or it is desired for any other reason to u'se the hand crank or other alternative power source for efiecting the desired mechanical movementQ the speed-reducing unit is either inherently noninvertible or of such a high reduction ratio that.

the friction therein and in the motor bearings,

brushes, etc, will prevent inverted operation" thereof For this purpose the friction inherent in the mechanism may be deliberately augmented- 3 if desired, by the provision of a suitable artificial friction device.

This construction and combination, therefore,

provides a simple and reliable mechanism for effecting a desired mechanical movement without the employment .of any clutches or similar devices requiring actuation for the purpose of selecting the prime mover or source of power to be utilized. p

The invention will be better understood and other objects and advantages thereof will appear from a consideration of the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. l is a perspective view of a device constituting a preferred embodiment of the invention;

, portion 20. The crank I3 is thus rigidly secured Fig. 2 is a view of the same device partly in elevation and partly in section taken on a vertical plane through the aXis indicated by the line 2-2 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a partly diagrammatic view, on a smaller scale, taken on a plane indicated by the line 3-3 in Fig. 2, showing, partly in end elevation and partly in section and with certain parts broken away, a speed-reducing unit incorporated in the said device; and

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic illustration of an electrically controlled braking device which may be incorporated in certain embodiments of the invention.

The device illustrated in the drawings comprises an electric motor I i, a speed-reducing unit l2, and a power-delivering crank H. The motor H has a conventional rotor element (not shown) which is connected directly to the input end of the speed-reducing unit i2, and the crank I3 is connected directly to the output end of said unit. This speed-reducing unit may-be of any suitable type well known in the art, such as a worm-gear reduction unit, a planetary gear unit or the like. The detailsof this unit are not essential to the present invention but a suitable example thereof is illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3 and will be described briefly. The mechanism is encased in a housing consisting of a substan-. tially cylindrical or bell-shaped portion [4 secured by screws l5 to an end housing portion I6, which in turn is secured by screws H to the housing or stator element of the motor H.

The speed-reducing mechanism is of theplanetary type and comprises a planet assembly l2a including annular end members l2b and I with spacing members 12d therebetween, all secured together by bolts or studs i2e. The left-hand end member H1) is rotatably carried by an antifriction bearing |2f supported upon an extension I la of the shaft of the motor I I, which also carrieshaplnion Ilb to drive a train of gears 12g journaled within the planet assembly. The final gear of this train, at the right-hand endthereof as viewed in'Fig. 2, meshes with a stationary internal gear [2h secured to the inside of the housing portion [4 by bolts or studs (8, which also serve another purpose to be referred to hereinafter.

The right-hand end member I20 of the planet assembly is rotatably supported in the end of the housing portion l4 by means of an antifriction bearing l9, which is, of course, coaxial with to the driven element l2c of the speed-reducing 'unit i2 and is rotatably mounted by means of the bearing IS with respect to the housing M of said speed-reducing unit, which housing, as already described, is rigidly secured to the housing or stator element of the motor I i.

As viewed in the drawings, the right-hand end of the assembly comprising the units or elements ll, I2 and i3 is rotatably supported by an antifriction bearing 24 carried by a bracket or mounting member 25 having lugs or feet 25a for attachment to any suitable support. The mounting of the bearing 24 in the bracket 25 is efiected by means of a flanged plate 26 secured by screws 21 against the outer face of the bracket 2'5. This bracket and the plate 26 are formed with opposed flanges 25b and 28a, respectively, between which the outer race member of the bearing 24 is interposed and securely held when these elements are assembled and secured to ether by means of the screws 21.

. The inner race member of the bearing 24 is held in assembled relationship with the plate or disc portion 20 between a flange or shoulder portion 260, of the latter and one end of an inner, cylindrical ring portion 28a of an annular spacing member 28 of T-shaped cross-section. The opposite end of the ring portion 28a abuts against the outer surface of the inner race member of the antifriction bearing 19 and thereby holds this hearing in the assembly against a flange or shoulder portion I21 of the driven element l2c of the speed-reducing mechanism. The outer race member of this bearing i9 is positioned and held between the said flange or shoulder portion I21 and a flange or shoulder portion Ma. on the end wall of the housing portion M, which is bored or recessed as shown at Mb to receive said outer race member. The assembly is sealed against inflltration of dirt, leakage of lubricant, etc., by means of a sealing member such as a felt washer or spacer 29 interposedbetween the outer surface of the flange or shoulder portion Ma of the housing and the adjacent opposed face of an annular flange portion 28b of the spacing member 28.

As set forth in the foregoing description, the right-hand end of the assembly of mechanism including the motor H, the speed-reducing unit l2 and the power-delivering crank I3 is rotatably mounted in a fixed support by means of the mounting or bracket member 25. The axis of this mounting is the axis of rotation of the crank l3 and coincides with the axis of rotation of the final driven element l2c of the speed-reducing unit, since the bearings l9 and 24 are coaxial. The opposite end of the entire assembly referred to is likewise rotatably mounted on the same axis, such mounting being efiected by means of a shaft or pintle 39 secured to or projecting from the end of the housing of the motor H and journaled ina bearing 3| supported by arms 32 and 33. The arms 32 and 33 in turn are supported by bracket or mounting members 34 and 35, re-

spectively, which may be secured to a suitable support in .the same manner as the bracket or mounting member 25.

Since the axis of the bearing 31 is the same as that of the bearing 24 at the right-hand end of the unit, it will be seen that the entire assembly above-referred to is mounted for'unitary rotation about said axis, which is the same as the axis of rotation of the power delivering crank l3. Provision is made for effecting such unitary rotation by means .of a worm gear 36 and a worm 3'! intermeshing therewith. The gear 36 is positioned with its axis of rotation coinciding with that of the crank l3 and the above-mentioned assembly including the same, and is fixedly secured in this relationship to the housing portion M of the speed-reducing unit I2 by means of the bolts or studs l8, which also serve to hold the internal gear 271 in place within thesaid housing portion as previously described. The worm 37 is mounted on a shaft 39 and is secured in fixed position relative thereto by a key 40. The shaft 39 is carried by journal supports 25c and 25d formed integrally with and extending downwardly from the bracket member 25. As shown in Fig. 1, these journal supports 25c'and 25d are spaced apart a sufiicient distance to embrace the length of the worm 31 and to hold it against movement longitudinally of itsaxis.

The shaft 39 extends forwardly from the worm 31 through a journal bushing extension M which is secured in the journal support 25d. Theupper extremity of a supplemental supporting arm 42 is secured by a nut 43 to the outside of the bushing extension 4| and against the journal support 25d. This arm 42 extends downwardly and rearwardly from this connection to a point of attachment to a mounting or bracket member 44 which is adapted to be secured to a suitable support in the same manner as the members 25, 34 and 35, thus lending additional rigidity to the mounting of the entire assembly of mechanism. A tubular extension shaft 45 is secured by means of a bolt -45 to the forward extremity of the shaft 39 and is provided with a pin and slot connection 4! whereby it may be removably engaged by a hand crank member 48.

As will be described more in detail hereinafter, the motor ll and the hand crank 48 may be selectively utilized to actuate the power-delivering crank 13 and any desired mechanism which may be connected thereto. Only one typical element of such mechanism is illustrated herein, this consisting of a pitman or connecting rod 49 having its upper extremity suitably bored and journaled on a bushing 50 carried by a crank pin portion I3a of the crank member l3. The bushing 50 is secured on the crank pin portion Ida, and the upper end of the rod 49 is held in place thereon, by means of a washer 5| and a nut 52 screwed onto the outer extremity of the said crank pin portion, which is suitably threaded to receive such nut. The rod 49 may be connected to any mechanism which it is desired to actuate by selective operation of the motor H and the hand crank 48. When the motor II is to be utilized, it is suitably energized from an appropriate source through its conducting leads 53.

In the operation of the mechanism by means of the motor II, this motor drives the powerdelivering crank l3 and connected mechanism through the speed-reducing unit 12. This unit ordinarily has a relatively high ratio of speed reduction (on the order of 2000 to 1, for example) so that arelatively high speed andconsequently small and lightweight motor II will serve eflectively to apply comparatively high torque to the crank 13 and mechanism driven thereby, for operation thereof at a relatively low speed. Such operation may consist, for example, of a cycle of actuation of the crank l3 and connected mechanism from the lowermost position thereof, asshown: in' the drawings, to the uppermost posi-- tion or any desired intermediate position thereof, or vice versa, ormay' consist of continued ro tation of the crank l3 to impart continued reciprocation to the pitman or connecting rod as over any desired period of time. The limits of such movements may, of course, becontrolled by suitable limitswitches (not shown), such as are well known. in. the art, connected to control the energization and de-energizationof the motor H so as to effect the desired operating cycle or cycles.

During the operation of the mechanism by means of the motor H as described above, the stator element of the motor and the housing of the speed-reducing unit l2 are held in fixed posi- P tion by means of the bracket mountings of this mechanism and the :worm 3! intermeshing with the worm gear 36, which constitutes a noninvertible power transmission. During the motor operation, ofcourse, the hand crank 48 is not utilized, and consequently the worm 37 remains stationary, with the result just described.

In the event, however, of failure of the motor H or of the source from which it is energized, or any other condition under which it is desired that the actuable mechanism be actuated by means of the hand crank 48, such actuation may be readily effected. This is done simply by con-- nectingthe hand crank to the shaft extension 45 and turningit in either direction as required. This results directly in the rotation of the worm 3'! and causes rotation of the worm gear te'intermeshing therewith and corresponding bodily rotation of the entire assembly comprising the stator and rotor elements of the motor H, the speed reducin'g unit l2 and the power-delivering crank 13; The speed-reducing unit I 2 serves under these conditions to lock the crank 43 against rotation relative to the worm gear 36, by reason of the non-invertibility of its mechanism,

Such non-invertibility may be inherent in the mechanism, as in the case of the worm gear 36 and worm 31 intermeshing therewith, or may be brought about by reason of the high ratio of speed reduction in combination with the friction inherent or deliberately provided in the mechanism, including the motor ll, its bearings, brushes, etc. In case increased friction is to be deliberately provided, this result may be accomplished by havin the motor I I equipped with an ordinary friction disc or an electrically controlled brake which is automatically applied whenever the motor .is de-energized and released whenever it is energized, as illustrated diagrammatically in Fig. 4. As there shown, a friction disc 54 is secured to any suitably located portion lie of the shaft of the motor H. A braking member 55 is urged by a compression spring 56 toward the disc 54 but is adapted to be retracted therefrom upon the energization of a solenoid coil 51 acting upon a core member 58 constituting part of a suitably mounted armature which carries the braking member 55 and is engaged by the spring 56. The solenoid coil 5'! is to be connected in such circuit relationship with the motor H as to V be energized and deenergized concurrently therewith. The braking member 55 will therefore eifectively prevent rotation of the disc 54 and thereby prevent relative rotation of the rotor and stator elements of the motor H whenever the latter is not energized, but will not interfere with such rotation when the motor is energized. Whether this type of device or any equivalent thereof is employed, it is to be understood that relative rotation between the power-delivering crank I3 and the worm gear 36 cannot occur when the motor I I is not energized.

Accordingly, the crank I3 and the mechanism connected to be actuated thereby are manually operable by means of the hand crank 48 when the motor I I is de-energized, the entire assembly mounted in and between the bearings 24 and 30 then being bodily rotated about the common axis of said bearings, which is likewise the axis of rotation of the crank I3.

Normal operation of the mechanism connected to the power-delivering crank I3 may be eflected by rotation of said crank through a, limited angular range, such as an angle of 180, more ,or less. In that event, the electrical connections for energizing the motor I I may be made through flexible conductors connected to the leads 53 and having suificient slack therein to accommodate the maximum range of bodily rotation of the motor II resulting from operation of the crank 48. However, in case it is desired to provide for unidirectional rotation of the assembly or reversible rotation thereof through such an angular range that the use of such connections would not be feasible, or in case the employment of such slack flexible conductors is impractical or undesirable for any other reason, the energizing connections for the motor I I may be made through slip rings or equivalent means (not shown). Such means are well known in the art and accordingly require no illustration or detailed description herein.

It is to be understood that the electric motor II and the hand crank 48 are disclosed simply as typical operating devices which may be selectively utilized to effect operation of the mechanism which is to be actuated. The invention ment of parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as set forth in the appended claim.

What is claimed as new and is desired to secure by Letters Patent, therefore, is:

A mechanical translating device comprising a motor having a stator element mounted for rotation about a fixed aXis and a rotor element rotatable about the same axis with respect to said stator element, an actuatable member rotatable about said fixed axis, a non-invertible power transmission between said rotor element and said actuatable member for effecting rotating of the latter when said motor is energized, an actuating member, and a non-invertible power transmission between said actuating member and said stator element for efiecting unitary rotation of said stator and rotor elements, said first-mentioned power transmission and said actuatable member about said fixed axis in response to operation of said actuatin member.

ALBERT W. MOONEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the fileof this patent:

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